Dermot Hudson, a London-based Communist and North Korea sympathiser, has insisted that Kim Jong-Un is "very much alive" amid widespread speculation about the leader's health. Appearing on Piers Morgan's YouTube show Uncensored on Wednesday (October 22), Hudson addressed rumours that the North Korean dictator had died.
The speculation began after allegations that Kim had fallen into a coma following a brain haemorrhage last weekend, with unconfirmed reports of his death sweeping the internet. In response, North Korean officials released undated photos of Kim out and about to demonstrate that he was still alive.
Heated Exchange on Morgan's Show
During the segment, which Morgan later likened to "parody", the host asked directly: "Is Kim Jong-Un alive, or is he dead?" Hudson replied: "He's very much alive. Firstly, I disagree with your characterisation of Marshal Kim Jong-Un as a dictator."
The conversation quickly became chaotic as Morgan pressed for straight answers. Hudson responded: "He's a people's leader. He's an elected leader. He is accountable to the-" before being cut off. Morgan then asked: "How many people has he killed?"
Hudson answered: "None. Well, except one individual, a traitor, who was found guilty of treason by a special military tribunal." When Morgan pressed further, Hudson added: "Well, I wouldn't actually even say that he was responsible. It was a decision of a special military tribunal because of long-running crimes..."
Questions on Prisons and Gulags
Hudson also answered "none" when asked how many people Kim had "tortured", according to the Express. When Morgan asked, "How many of his political opponents has he sent to prisons, gulags?", Hudson said: "There aren't gulags in... that's a Russian word. Gulag is a Russian word."
Morgan clarified: "I know, but you know what I mean by gulag. A big, oppressive prison somewhere. How many has he sent to those?" Hudson again repeated: "None."
The exchange grew heated when Morgan challenged Hudson: "Why are you so unbelievably deluded about this guy?" Hudson declined to respond directly, instead returning to the death rumours. He said: "Anyway, to answer... to answer the points you've raised. I mean, these rumours that have spread, I knew straightaway that they were not true. They were being made by some random Chinese person in New York on the internet, who could not possibly know."
Admission of No Direct Contact
Morgan then asked: "Have you heard directly from Kim Jong-Un?" After a lengthy pause, Hudson confessed: "Well, no, but.." Morgan probed: "Have you ever spoken to him?" Hudson replied: "I've seen him on many occasions. I've not spoken to him, but he's waved at me."
"How did that make you feel?" a sceptical Morgan asked. Hudson said: "It made me feel quite proud. Proud to be there when he was there. It was actually celebrating a very important occasion, the 80th anniversary of the foundation of the Workers' Party of Korea."
